Heel-plate



JE A. COLE. 1rf/Ieel-PlaAz-e.v

vPatented April 20,1880.

WTF-less@ Mc y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'JAMES A. COLE, OF NORTHVILLE, NEW YORK.

HEEL-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,720, dated April20, 1880.

Application filed February 18, 1880.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. COLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Northville, in the county of Fulton and State of NewYork,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Plates forBoots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings represents a perspective view of a heel withthe plate connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a top-plan view of the platedisconnected from the heel. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the plate,showing the two sections thereof broken apart and separated from eachother; and Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the sections with apiece of leather connected to the under side.

This invention has relation to metal heelplates for boots and shoes, andthe object thereof is to provide a plate that can be used to cover theentire surface of' the bottom ot' the heel or be used in two separatesectionsone f or each heel-to cover that portion near the outer edge orside of the heel that generally wears down.

The invention' consists in a metal heel-plate of the required size andshape to cover the under surface of the heel, said plate having a grooveor incision' extending partially through the same, whereby the plate canbe conveniently severed or broken into two half-sections to adapt it foruse upon both heels, as circumstances may'reqnire.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a heel of a boot, shoe, orgaiter, with the heelplate connected thereto by screws or other suitablemeans. This plate, as represented, covers the entire surface of thebottom of the heel around its outer edge, but has a groove or incision,a, extending partially or nearly through the plate and lengthwise ofthesame, which divides it into two equal parts.

On new shoes, or where the heels are unworn or perfectly level, it isdesirable, in some cases, to use the entire plate, consisting of the twosections B C. If the plate, however, is not sufficiently large toproperly cover the outer edge of the heel, the groove or incision a,will admit of the sections being readily broken apart and separated by apair of pliers or pinchers, and the two sections, at their front ends,spread apart sufficiently to cover the edges of the heel. Although thisis considered an advantage where the under surface of the heel isslightly larger than the plate, by rendering the latter capable of beingdivided into two separate and independent sections to adapt the platesto heels of different widths, it is not, however, the most importantfeature in my invention.

When heels are worn down the sections can be used separately, and inmany cases a halfplate is preferable to a whole one. It will thereforebe seen that by constructing the heelplate in such a manner as to admitof its heilig used as awhole or half plates, a shoe-maker can have lacomplete assortment of the above to lit any heel with very few sizes, asone size ot' plates will answer for several sizes of heels, or wherethey are of various widths.

The heel-plate may have secured to its upper surface, by cement or othersuitable means, a covering, b, ot' leather or other similar material, sothat when either section is used separately the covering b may be shavedor cut down as required in leveling up worn heels. These plates, withthe covering attached, can be sold in the market and used by families tofasten to worn or run-over heels without the aid of a Shoemaker, as itrequires very little skill to attach them.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

A metal heel-plate for boots or shoes, having acentral longitudinalgroove orincision extending partially or nearly through the same,whereby said plate is adapted to be used whole or divided into equalsections or halves and used separately, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony that l claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses. y

JAMES A. COLE.

Witnesses:

RAY HUBBELL, W. D. SMITH.

